Guest Post: Crafty, Creative, Contemporary Cross Stitch!

Cross stitch is woven through time; for hundreds of years this versatile form of embroidery has captured the imaginations of generations from its humble beginnings teaching little girls the art of household sewing in Ye Olde Eastern Europe to the dresses and shoes of the fashionistas on the catwalks of Paris and Milan. So what can you do with cross stitch? Think big! Think innovative! Think…furniture!

Cross Stitch a Chair

Why not? If you’ve got some time on your hands and your fingers are itching for a project grab some old dining room furniture and get to it. Woven cane furniture is perfect for a cross stitch face lift: it’s cheap and, let’s face it, a little bit drab, but with a little bit of skill and a pocket full of patience you can transform it into something beautiful and unique. Pick your favourite threads and yarns and think up a pattern and the stitching really takes care of itself; the back of a chair is a big blank canvas so go at the pace you’re comfortable with, go simple with geometric shapes or get a little crazy and let your imagination flow.

Cross Stitch Your Office Supplies

Oh how offices love mesh. Mesh pencil pots, mesh letter racks, mesh trays, mesh is everywhere. The problem with mesh is it has a knack of making everything look like a teeny tiny prison, and, as we spend centuries toiling at our desks, it might be nice to have the company of something a little bit funkier. Pick a picture or pattern you want to spend your day with and stitch away, Monday mornings looking better already.

Cross Stitch Your Wardrobe

It’s a recession, people. As much as we want to (and we do want to), going out and buying a whole new wardrobe every season is starting to get tough, but don’t worry, set your best fingers to work jazzing up last year’s plain jumpers, jerseys and t-shirts and you’ve got yourself a whole new look without having to re-mortgage your house. You can really let your personality shine with patterns, pictures and words (and no more hasty exits when you turn up to a party in the same dress as the hostess). Think embellishments: buttons, ribbons, flowers, sequins? Head down to your local haberdashery and be your own Alexander McQueen.

Cross Stitch a Mural

Anyone can buy a mural, picture or print to adorn a blank wall but you, reader, you can make your own. A canvas, some threads, a couple of adornments and your set, home beautification here you come! Look for inspiration wherever you can: shops, the internet, nature, the internet, home improvement programmes and the internet can all give you the spark you need to get those creative juices flowing; canvases come in all shapes and sizes so don’t feel stifled, get out there and stitch to your heart’s content.

Cross Stitch Your Christmas List

Let’s face it, some people are impossible to shop for; if it’s something they want they’ve already got it and if it’s something they don’t, then it’s something they don’t. But even the hardest heart to please can’t say no to a homemade gift: a personal message, an in joke or just a simple picture and it’ll bring a smile to their face. What did we say at the beginning? Think big! It doesn’t have to be stitched fabric in a frame (of course, it could be) it could be a pillow case, a throw, a bracelet, a mesh pencil pot! The possibilities are endless.

Cross Stitch Your Cat

OK, too far, but you could stitch little whiskers a nifty new collar. Maybe snowflake would like to stand out with some snowflakes or Felix wants to wear his name loud and proud? Whatever puss’s personality let them express it with flair, just like you. While we’re in the process of making fabulous felines let’s get creative with the canines; why pay the earth for a lucrative lead when you could glam one up yourself? It’s cheap, it’s chic and Larry the Labrador’s guaranteed to love it.

The wonderful world of cross stitch is an exciting place to live, and the door is always open; get out there and stock up on threads, yarns, needles (a how to guide?) and stitch a funkier tomorrow.

This post was written by Emma Smith on behalf of All Cross Stitch, an internet emporium of all things cross stitch and creative from books, threads, accessories and ideas!